Tray for storing and transporting workpieces

ABSTRACT

A group of trays is configured for storing and transporting workpieces. Each tray includes a base and a frame. The base includes a plurality of receiving portion for receiving the workpieces. The frame surrounds the base to form a cavity. A plurality of projections are formed at the outer side of the flange. When two trays are stacked whether in a same direction or opposite direction, the lower tray is partially received in the cavity of the upper tray, and the projections of the lower tray resist the frame of the upper tray to stop the lower tray from being further inserted into the cavity of the upper tray.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to trays, particularly, a tray used to store and transport elements of portable electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Elements of portable electronic device, such as battery covers, printed circuit boards and so on, go through many processing steps during their manufacturer. These elements are generally transported with trays. The trays have numerous form fitting compartments so that numerous elements can be handled and transported at one time. Generally, the trays have a same structure and can be stacked one by one to save space. When the elements are put into the trays, the trays need to be detached from each other. However, it can be hard to detach one tray from the others.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the tray can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the tray, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tray, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circled portion II shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but shown another aspect.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of two stacked trays shown in FIG. 1, showing the trays without workpiece.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the stacked trays shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of two stacked trays shown in FIG. 1, showing the trays being used.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the stacked trays shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a tray 100 for storing and transporting workpieces 200. The tray 100 includes a base 11 and a flange 13 surrounding the base 11. A cross section of the flange 13 is “L” shaped, and the flange 13 has a top surface 132. Also referring to FIG. 2, the base 11 includes a flat surface 111. The flat surface 111 is partially recessed to form a plurality of receiving portions 15 for receiving the workpieces 200. The flat surface 111 and the flange 13 together define a cavity 16 for receiving the base 11 of another tray 100.

Also referring to FIGS. 3-4, the inner side of the flange 13 is partially recessed to define a plurality of side grooves 133, corner grooves 134 and notches 138, and a plurality of corresponding side blocks 137, corner blocks 139 and projections 135 are formed on the outer side of the flange 13. The side grooves 133 and the corner grooves 134 communicate with the top surface 132 of the flange 13 and may receive the corresponding side blocks 137 and corner blocks 139 of another tray 100. The notches 138 are smaller than the grooves 133, 134, and do not communicate to the top surface 132 of the flange 13. The tray 100 defines a center line A-A in a longitudinal direction. Comparing FIGS. 6 and 8, the blocks 137, 139 are asymmetrical relative to the center line A-A. Thus, when two trays 100 are stacked in an opposite direction (the upper tray 100 is rotated 180 degree relative to the bottom tray 100), the grooves 133, 134 of the bottom tray 100 do not align with the blocks 137, 139 of the top tray 100. In this exemplary embodiment, the projection 135 are tapered and a width of the projection 135 decreases with increasing distance from the top surface 132. Thus, when two trays 100 are stacked—even in a same direction (FIG. 6), the notches 138 of the lower tray 100 cannot receive the corresponding projections 135 of the upper tray 100.

There are two ways to stack the trays 100 . One way is that the corresponding blocks 137, 139 of two trays 100 are aligned with each other. This way is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. At this time, the two trays 100 are stacked in a same direction. In this way, the base 11 of the upper tray 100 is received in the cavity 16 of the lower tray 100. The projections 135 of the upper tray 100 resist the top surfaces 132 of the lower tray 100 to prevent the blocks 137, 139 of the upper tray 100 from being received in the corresponding grooves 133, 134 of the lower tray 100. Thus, the upper tray 100 can be easily detached from the lower tray 100. However, when the workpieces 200 are to be received in the receiving portions 15 of the upper tray 100, the weight (e.g. workpieces) supported by the projections 135 is increased and the connection between the projections 135 of the upper tray 100 and the top surfaces 132 of the lower tray 100 are not strong enough to support such weight. Thus, this stacking method best suits empty trays 100.

Another way to stack the trays is that, the upper tray 100 is rotated 180 degrees relative to the lower tray 100, and the grooves 133, 134 of the upper tray 100 are not aligned with the corresponding blocks 137, 139 of the lower tray 100. This method is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. At this time, the two trays 100 are stacked in an opposite direction. The blocks 137, 139 and projections 135 of the upper tray 100 resist the top surfaces 132 of the lower tray 100. In this way, even when the workpieces 200 are received in the upper tray 100, the friction-fit connections between the blocks 137, 139 of the upper tray 100 and the top surface 132 of the lower tray 100 are strong enough to support the weight of the workpieces.

It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A group of trays for storing and transporting workpieces, each tray comprising: a base including a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the workpieces; and a flange, the flange surrounding the base to form a cavity, the flange including a top surface; a plurality of projections formed at the outer side of the top surface; when then trays are stacked in a same direction or an opposite direction, the base of the lower tray is received in the cavity of the upper tray, and the projections of the lower tray resist the top surfaces of the upper tray to prevent the lower tray from being further inserted into the cavity of the upper tray.
 2. The group of trays as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of blocks are formed at an outer side of the flange of each tray, and when the trays are stacked in opposite directions, the blocks of the lower tray resist the top surfaces of the upper tray.
 3. The group of trays as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trays are made of a plastic.
 4. The group of trays as claimed in claim 3, wherein the trays are formed by suction molding.
 5. The group of trays as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flange of each tray is partially recessed at an inner side to define a plurality of grooves corresponding to the blocks respectively, the grooves communicating with the top surfaces, and the projections of the upper tray prevent the blocks of the upper tray from being further inserted into the corresponding grooves of the lower tray when two trays are stacked in a same direction.
 6. The group of trays as claimed in claim 5, wherein the blocks of each tray are positioned at different locations.
 7. The group of trays as claimed in claim 6, wherein the grooves comprise side grooves and corner grooves, and accordingly the blocks comprise side blocks and corner blocks.
 8. The group of trays as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projections are tapered and a width of the projection decreases with increasing distance from the top surface of the flange.
 9. A group of trays for storing and transporting workpieces, each tray comprising a base and a flange, the flange and the base defining a cavity; the base including a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the workpieces; a plurality of projections and blocks being formed at the outer side of the flange; when the trays are stacked in a same direction or an opposite direction, the base of the upper tray is received in the cavity of the lower tray; when the trays stacked in an opposite direction, the blocks of the upper tray resist the flange of the lower tray to prevent the upper tray from being further inserted into the cavity; when the trays are stacked in a same direction, the projections of the upper tray resist the flange of the lower tray to prevent the blocks of the lower tray from being inserted into the cavity of the lower tray.
 10. The group of trays as claimed in claim 9, wherein the trays are made of plastic material.
 11. The group of trays as claimed in claim 10, wherein the trays is formed by suction molding.
 12. The group of trays as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flange of each tray is partially recessed at an inner side to define a plurality of grooves corresponding to the blocks respectively, the grooves communicate to the top surfaces correspondingly, and the projections of the upper tray stop the blocks of the upper tray from inserting into the corresponding grooves of the lower tray when two trays are stacked in a same direction.
 13. The group of trays as claimed in claim 12, wherein the blocks of each tray are positioned in different space.
 14. The group of trays as claimed in claim 13, wherein the grooves comprise side grooves and corner grooves, and accordingly the blocks comprise side blocks and corner blocks.
 15. The group of trays as claimed in claim 9, wherein the projections are tapered and a width of the projection decreases with increasing distance from the top surface of the flange. 